Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-01-20

| CHAIIEh NJ.
When tho sun had climbed up the
| heavens far enough on the morrow to
look comfortably down over the soft
naples in the courthouse yard. his
beams, or moro poctically, his cye-
lashcs Of fire, fell against the portly
person ofJocl standing in tho doorway
Of his bank, and fingered glintcringly
about the great gold fob that danglcd
] just below his bulging vest. IL was tho
only ornament that joel ever permit
ted himself to wear, and for that reason
the more perhaps the sunbeams glintcd
/ from 10 umbelliferously. Joel had
"tIickcned up" as he termed it. during
these years, being quite pronounced in
the matter of growth with well-dc-
fined double-chin. and two rather por-
tentious puhs of fat just below his
eyes However, his skin was still
clear. albeit some little red veins were
traccable about the nose, but all in all
he was a very comfortable and solid
looking person. "COnsarn the boyw
he muttercd to himself, IL wish l had
told him about it long ago." and he
knit his brows and looked hard at the
threshold where "Whitney's Bank was
cast in the iron. He heard the ten
o'clock train whistle while he was
staring. and Julius Popp came spring
lily around the corner. His hat was on
one side and he gave his cane jocund
twirl at every second step.
"MOrnin', Whitney, mornin'," he
said, coming to stand still with jerk
big mornin'," hanginghis cane upon
his arm and lighting cigar "Slick
as weasel. sir!'' putting vigorously;
make a blind robin crow, sir. crow
like a nightingalev' Then beam ng
on his cane with one foot very much
advanced, with his cigar sticking up
past his nose; ''lots of the boys comm
home; played 'or brilliant brilliant rs
rainbow. sir. Ny son-in-law, Cap
Heater, is expected in any time, /
hear. He's q noble specimen. sir:
specimen I'm proud 10 say | feel to-
ward as a father should feel toward
son, and | might further remark rs a
man should feel toward a protector.
q national protector. sir
Joel said nothing; he was looking
little sourly beyond Julius and patting
the iron door-sill with his foot Ju-
Illus whirlcd around with flourish of
his cane and set his hat down over his
nose. "Iloncysuci;lcs!" he calculated,
'iots Of the blue boys gcttin' inr'
Joel looked down the street; good
many people were coming from tho
train, and sprinklcd among them were
a number OF soldiers. One stalwart
long-legged fellow in blue, with a full
square beard and sun-burned copper
colorcd skin, strobe along in front
with n swinging powerful tramp that
left the rest behind. He carried belt
and scabbard-incloscd sword loosely in
his hand. and the short hair just below
the crown Of his head where his sol.
dicr's cap shut down stuck rcsolutcly
up. lIc went hy the two men in front
of the bank at a sweeping gait julius
clappcd his glasses upon his nose and
peered at him. and joel started liltlo
and widenod his eyes, but the soldier
simply winkcd one eve and strodc for
ward with immoyabic face. Julius
ierkcd his glasses from his nose AMI
looked at Joel. "Thc deucew he said,
with a kind Of excited squeak; who
who was that?'
Joel stepped down upon the side
walk and looked anNiOusly after the
retreaiing figure, but said nothing. On
through the square the soldier strobe, |
not speaking 10 any one or seeming 10
notice much. and up the street and in
at Jocls gate and around 10 the back
door. lie glanced at the barn and els
tern, threw his sword down and
pumpei drink Of water, took or his
cap and sat down upon the doorstep
g..
lac looked sLout the place. Presently
Ether oToned the door. Tho soldier
looked up into her face. and said. with
a strained sort Of quiet: Hello.
Poppy
" Mercy" exclaimed the woman.
springing back with CONSERVATION in
her cycs. Then she wav red, tumblcd
and sank forward with one cry: "Ab-
salom!' and fell flinting against his
breast.
Down in front of the bank the two
men stood and watched the soldier IN
Ill they saw him turn in at JOcl's gate;
then Julius snatched the glasses from
his nose again and looked at joel. |
Joel nodded his head ailirmatively, and
Julius. with a kind OF ecst tic sgueal, |
started of In the direction OF joel = I
residence with such marvellous |
springiEcss that his coattails camo I
after him IN q icrly lutter. Joel [
stepped 90 the doorway of the bank, aud, |
telling the cashier IN a slightly excited I
tone that Cap Heater had got in. he /
started after Julius. When he arrived |
at bis back door Julius was already |
there, with his gllsses Jared down I
across the end Of his nose and lis hat |
very far back upon his head, shaking /
Absalom by the hand and talking with /
such supcrhuman Nolubility that little |
could BE- extracted from the stream |
save such shining aud broken irag- /
ments as, "bril iant," SLICK my |
latest-born specimen. bright, "glo- |
rious.' 'rainbows," " "nabObs, - hon |
eysucklcs.' and other like ineXplicahlo /
shrods. Ether was sitting On the door
step crying and laughing, and Absa- |
iom WAS being shaken helplcssly about |
by Julius.
"Well, my boy.' said Joel. as he
came painting up, "this is rich! Give |
ms your handl Why, your big rs an
ok what WAS the matter that YOU /
never come home TO see your friends" /
Absalom sat down Ia the doorway /
by Ether with a rueiul sigh. Thought |
| wouldn't come homo but once, y he
said, ''aild take Il with double-quick /
and charge. It's equal TO takin' a
fort; fathcrin-lgw here is rs terrible TO
me rs an army with banncrsv"
They all laughed. and Ether caught
him about the neck and kissed him.
Gone into the house" said Joel,
leading tho way. 'frhe wife's out
calm somewhere, guess. Most al
ways on the wing ov'days. Set
down, set down; make Yourself at
homo Heater. Come in Popp, come
IN and take a seat Ether, 20 down to
inc ice-box and bring us up two or
.hrce bottles of that Milwaukee beer,